Picture for illustrative purposes only. ARCHIVE

The price of chili or siling labuyo in parts of the Philippines has skyrocketed to as much as P800 per kilo, making it one of the steepest food items on the market in recent weeks. To put this in perspective, chili in the UAE currently sells for around P270 (Dh18) per kilo — almost a third of what consumers now pay in the Philippines. According to the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) Bantay Presyo report, the price hike has been sharp: from P350 per kg in July to P550 per kg in mid-August, now peaking at P800 per kg in early September in some Metro Manila markets. Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. admitted that there is no quick fix yet. “Maybe… but wala rin supply masyado (there’s not much supply). We are looking at supply options,” he told the Philippine News Agency when asked if cheaper chili could soon be available at Kadiwa ng Pangulo outlets. Lauren explained that production has been hit hard by continuous rains and floods brought by successive storms. Reports from Ilocos, Central Luzon, and Bicol showed supply reductions due to fewer farmers planting chili and weather disruptions that hampered cultivation. Assistant Agriculture Secretary Arnel de Mesa stressed that long-term investment in greenhouse technology and off-season planting is needed. “R&D will greatly help, especially for off-season chili planting… Chili is very seasonal and does not thrive well during the rainy season,” de Mesa said in Filipino.
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